THE BUFFALO 



buffalo has no natural enemy in Ceylon except man, though 

 occasionally a straggling calf may be killed by a leopard, 

 and it is in its fear of man that its wariness and caution are 

 exercised. Very few are killed nowadays by Europeans, 

 but I think the native meat-hunters kill a fair number on 

 the quiet. Vast numbers were probably slain before the 

 game laws came into force, whilst an occasional murrain also 

 accounts for some of the diminution in numbers. 



It is rather curious that crocodiles never seem to attempt 

 an attack on a buffalo in the water, though they have no 

 hesitation whatever in attacking an ordinary domestic cow 

 or bull, and will often go for them when merely drinking at 

 the edge of a tank. 



The buffalo may be said to spend as much time in water 

 as it does on dry land, and the muddier the water the better 

 it seems to like it. I once saw an interesting sight when I 

 happened to be on the banks of the Ambanganga at Elahera, 

 where I had been having a look at the stupendous remains 

 of the ancient stone dam which formerly turned the waters 

 of the river down the famous Elahera Canal. Some village 

 buffaloes were crossing the river above the modern small 

 dam built by Government a few years ago, the still water at 

 the spot being perhaps 50 or 60 yards across. Towards 

 the middle most of the animals swam for about 10 or 15 

 yards, but one, which evidently knew the depth to an inch, 

 actually walked the whole way across on the bed of the 

 river, though at the deepest portion, where the others swam, 

 it was only able to keep just its nose out by elevating its head 

 to the utmost. The water was clear, so that I could see 

 the animal all the way across, and the sight was curious 

 and interesting, but it seemed extraordinarily unnatural, 

 somehow, that a bulky animal like a buffalo should walk 

 under water ! 



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